Smoker&#39;s automobile lighter



.April 23, 1935. c. H. l., REID 1,998,843

SMOKERS AUTOMOBILE LIGHTER Filed MaIOh 19, 1934 Patented Apr. 23, 19735UNITED STA-.Tas

PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

The invention appertains to lighters for cigars, cigarettes and pipes,and particularly to a lighter permanently iitted to a motor car withwhich a connection is made to the gasoline feed system and the ignitionsystem for its operation.

A salient object of the invention is to provide a lighter having areceptacle in which is tted an absorbent pad supplied with gasoline fromthe feed piping of the vehicle, soA that the pad is evenly moistened atall times.

A further object is to provide a removable torch in the receptaclehaving metal prongs with an associated wick in order that as the torchis removed a spark or arc is established between the prongs by electriccontacts connected to the high tension circuit of the ignition system ofthe Vehicle. This ignites the wick of the torch so as to produce asubstantial flame for lighting purposes.

A distinctive feature of the invention is that it is inexpensive tomanufacture and easy to install upon a motor car.

The invention is herein disclosed in what is deemed a practicalapplication of its features, however it is apprehended that variousmodifications could be made without departing from its spirit and scope.

Referring to the accompanying drawing; Figure 1 is an elevation of thedash or instrument panelrof a motor car showing the lighter installedupon it.

Figure 2 is a View partly in section of the lighter.

Figure 3 is an elevation atrright angles to Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section of the torch.

Like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in each of thegures throughout the drawing of the invention.

In carrying out the invention it is proposed to employ a receptacle 5 ofbakelite or other material of an electrical insulating character. Thereceptacle may be of a cylindrical shape and fairly deep with anintegral bottom 6 so as to produce a cup-shaped member. This is attachedin Suitable manner to a bracket 1 of metal secured to the dash orinstrument panel 8 of the motor car as depicted in Figure 1.

The bracket may be composed of a metal stamping of a convenient designwith an attaching ear or ears 9 for receiving the fastening elements. Ifso desired the bracket may be fashioned with an integral nipple l0 forconnection to a length of copper tubing II extending to the regular feedline I2 between the carburetor and` fuel tank. A'standard fitting I3 isinterposed for this purpose.

A plug or pad lI4 of fibrous material is fitted in the bottom of thereceptacle and communicates with the tubing Il' by a duct I4 so as toab- 5 sorb gasoline therefrom. Asbestos nbre may be employed for theplug or pad and it is suggested that part of the length of tubing couldbe plugged with an absorbent material so that the gasoline would onlyfeed by capillary attraction. 10

The torch I5 may be composed of an elongated cylindrical member ofbakelite having an exposed head I5 knurled or otherwise roughened toafford a convenient grip portion. The body is shown tapered to a pair ofspaced metal prongs l5 I I projecting from the lower end I8, and betweenthe prongs is depicted a wick I9 of asbestos fibre. The prongs enter theplug or pad I4 when the torch is inserted in the cylindrical cup and thewick contacts with the plug or pad so as to absorb gasoline from it.

The receptacle has a pair of contacts attached to it and consisting ofresilient fingers 20, 20 diametrically opposed and secured to the baseportion, and extended upwardly to the vicinity of the top where they arebent inwardly so as to protrude through openings 2 I.

The inwardly bent ends 22 have curled extremities that contact with thebody of the torch and are normally held apart by it. The finger 20 has30 contact with the bracket which in turn is in contact with theinstrument panel and thus is grounded for the electric circuit.

The other finger 20' is insulated from its companion by reason of itsmounting on the receptacle andhas an electrical conductor 22 attached toit that leads to the high tension circuit of the ignition system betweenthe coil and the distributor.

` It will be readily understood that by this construction the wick ofthe torch absorbs gasoline from .the pad I4 and upon being withdrawn isautomatically ignited by the closing in of the electrical contacts alongthe tapered portion of the body and their touching the prongs Il. The 4Uresultant arc between-the prongs ensures ignition. Y

What I claim is:-

1. The combination with the gasoline feed line of aV motor car, of areceptacle, an absorbent mass therein, a tubing leading from saidabsorbent mass and connected to said feed line, an absorbent materialtherein in the nature of a wick for feeding gasoline to said absorbentmass by capillary attraction, a torch removably disposed in thereceptacle, a Wick carried thereby and contacting with the aforesaidabsorbent mass, and means for ignitng the Wick as the torch isWithdrawn.

2. The combination with the gasoline feed line of a motor car, of acup-shaped receptacle having a small opening in its bottom, an absorbentmass in the bottom of the receptacle over said opening, a tubing leadingfrom said opening in the receptacle and connected to said feed line, anabsorbent mass therein forming a Wick feed to the absorbent mass in thebottom of the receptacle, a torch removably disposed in said receptacleand having an exposed grip portion, a Wick projecting from the torch andcontacting with the aforesaid absorbent mass, andmeans attached to thereceptacle for igniting the wick as the torch is withdrawn.

3. A lighter of the class described comprising an elongated cup-shapedreceptacle of insulating material, said receptacle having openings inits top portion and a hole in its bottom, a plug or pad of fibrousmaterial lodged in its bottom portion, an element at the bottom of thereceptacle supplying a duct leading to the hole therein, a tubing fittedto said element for connection to a gasoline supply, a pair of resilientmetal ngers rigidly attached to the base portion of the receptacle andextending longitudinally thereof on opposite sides for connection to theignitioncircuit of a motor car,.said fingers having inwardly bent endsprojecting into the openings aforesaid, an

elongated cylindrical torch of insulating material lodged in saidreceptacle and having an exposed gripping end, the other end beingtapered, a wick projecting from the tapered end and contacting With saidplug or pad, and a metal prong projecting from the torch on each side ofsaid wick.

CHARLES H. L. REID.

